Dr. Clarence "Clari" J. Kinzler

Dr. Clarence “Clari” Kinzler was born to Rev. Floyd and Gladys Kinzler in Valley City, ND, and was later raised in Nampa, ID.  He graduated from Northwest Nazarene College in 1957.  He received a Bachelor of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 1962.  In 1992, Point Loma Nazarene University conferred on him the honorary degree, Doctor of Divinity.

While in seminary, Clari was the founding pastor of the Shawnee, KS, Church of the Nazarene.  From there he went on to pastor Arlington Avenue Church of the Nazarene in Riverside, CA and College Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, ID.  In 1984 he became the District Superintendent of the Northern California District where he served for 17 years. Clari served on the Board of Regents at NNU while pastoring College Church and on the Board of Trustees for PLNU while serving in Northern California. He was awarded the “Alumnus of the Year Award” from NNU in 2000 and in June, 2009 was honored as the first recipient of NNU’s Wesley Order of Servant Leader’s award. Since retiring in 2001, Clari served various interim and “part-time” roles including as pastor of San Diego First Church of the Nazarene, District Superintendent of the Northwest Oklahoma District and pastor of the McCall Church of the Nazarene.

Clari was one-half of the tandem that affectionately became known simply as “Clari & Sue”.  Together they impacted countless lives with their love and care.  None were more impacted than Clari’s two children and their spouses, Becky and Mark Fredrickson and James and Kyla Kinzler, his seven grandchildren; Tyler, Taryn, Dayne, Ryder and Brody Fredrickson, Cady and Thomas Kinzler, and his brother, Bud Kinzler.

Clari loved his sweetheart wife, he loved his kids and especially his grandkids, he loved to keep his cars and his shoes clean and shiny, he loved to play and watch and talk sports, he loved to “hold court” on the deck, at the coffee shop, or in the boardroom, and he loved to talk to anyone and everyone about their “strengths”.  Most of all, Clari loved Jesus, and lived his life to bring him glory.

The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Santa Barbara Coast Community Church of the Nazarene, 4973 Via Los Santos, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 or Northwest Nazarene University Athletics, 623 So. University Blvd., Nampa, ID 83686.

The Celebration Service will be live streamed and the link for the live stream will be the Facebook Page for Nampa College Church.

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